Anderson defends England attack

James Anderson is part of a very tall England bowling attack for the winter Ashes series

James Anderson has warned that England's pace attack will not rely on its size alone in this winter's Ashes.

England's selectors named one of the tallest pace units in memory when they announced the 17-man squad for the tour Down Under with Anderson, at 6ft 2in, the relative short man of the attack.

Stuart Broad, Steven Finn, Boyd Rankin and Chris Tremlett have been called upon to make full use of the bounce and pace the Australian pitches are set to offer, although their selection has raised some concerns England's attack is one-dimensional.

Anderson thinks those claims overlook the subtly of skill his pace colleagues possess.

"It is a really good-looking attack for Australian pitches. From our last trip there having that tall bowler really helped us," he told the Daily Telegraph.

"But with the taller bowlers it is not just about banging it in. They are very skilful bowlers.

"Broady and Chris Tremlett can swing and reverse it and Boyd and Finny hit the seam. It is not just about going over there and bowling short.

"It is about being smarter than that."

Anderson believes Australia's batsman will be fearful of England's quicks after Rankin - unlikely to be a first choice - troubled them in the recent one-day international series.

"Australia got a good taste of it facing Boyd," he said.

"He looked a real handful at times and that will worry them. Even if he doesn't start the series we have got that sort of player in the squad to use when we need to.